I guess I'm still mourning the loss of my $60 pinarello (broken frame, sob)... It's not really fair to compare the two. Another possibility: I'm bored with a fully functioning bike and am trying to justify another project. I need bicycle psycho analysis!

Conclusion:
I'm going to get some nicer tires, ride more, and wait until a dream bike shows up for cheap enough on craigslist.

Comment: The tires mentioned earlier are forte strada kevlars. The cost ~$13 on a good sale and come in 28... They're a good value for putting fresh rubber on a bike, but you still get what you pay for...